Hildebrand returns to K-Wings

KALAMAZOO, Mich, – The Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced the team has re-signed goaltender Jake Hildebrand for the 2020-21 season.

Hildebrand, 27, returns for a third season in Kalamazoo after appearing in 46 games in 2018-19 and 39 games in 2019-20. The Butler, Pennsylvania native is 37-36-6 with two shutouts in 85 appearances over the last two seasons. The workhorse logged 4,743 minutes in net during that time and recorded 2,252 saves. His 182 appearances over the past five seasons is tied for first in the entire ECHL.

Following a four-year college career at Michigan State University, Hildebrand signed with the Allen Americans, appearing in six regular season and eight playoff games in helping the Americans to the Kelly Cup championship in 2016. He also played one season with the Indy Fuel and one with the Tulsa Oilers. He also appeared in three American Hockey League games in 2016-17 with the Rockford IceHogs.

Hildebrand played in 133 games as the Spartans’ four-year starter from 2012-16. His best college season came in 2014-15 as a junior, where he went 17-16-2 with a 2.18 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.